Printing device



May 3, 1938. F. E. CURTIS 2,115,235

PRINTING .DEVICE Filed April l2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ////{7/////.

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BYYW jm/4 alm/ 30; made. On the other hand, the machine is inop- Patented May 3, 1938 .l r orricE d 2,116,235 PRINTING nEvIoE vlrmnklfm"n Curtis, `East cleveland, ohio, assigner, by mesme assignments, to Addressegraph Multigraph Corporation,

Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application April 12, 1935, Seral'No. 16,065

22 ciaims.

This invention relates to a printing device for printing sales slips and the` like, involving the use of a customers token carrying his address.` The device is utilizable in that system of customers l credits now frequently employed inV large retail stores, Where a metallic token, in the form oi an embossed address plate, is issuedv to customers entitled to a certain amount of credit. The same token may apply to several diierent stores, each store having an individual indication on the token not applicable to any of the other stores. When the customer presents his token to the proper store, the salesman utilizes it in printing one or more sales slips, and if desired an entry in the salesmans sales book, with the result that credit is given only to those entitled to it, the address on the account slip and delivery sli-pis necessarily` correct, and there is a material saving-in time in making outsuch slips. i

Sales slip printing devices operating according to the above outlined system are in use. It is the object of this invention to materiallysimplifyand cheapen the construction and operation of the printing device, as well as to provide amore ecient token. To that endl haveprovided a very simple printingdevice which is normally locked against operation, and a very'simple form of token which, when presented in proper position to the proper printing machine, automatically releases such lock, enabling the imprint to `be the customer the reason Why the credit will not be extended to him. g

The above characteristic of operation and various features of construction included within rnyy invention, will become apparent from `the follow-4 ing detaileddescription of `a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan partly broken away of my printingfmachine showing the .slide which carries the tokengin the extended position. itfhas when the token is-being placed therein;- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsection through the machine with parts in the position oi Fig. l, the plane of this view being indicated by the line 2-2 on Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections through the machine in the same plane as Fig. 2, showing the slide in the innermost position- Fig. 3 showing the operation witha-token intended for that machine and the platen depressed to make the impression, Ywhile Fig. 4 shows the condition when i thel token is not of the character proper for that machine; Fig. 5 isa Vertical section through the bed of the machine and a portion of the platen at right angles to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, as indicated by the line 5-5 on Fig. 3. The remaining figures indicate the token-Fig 6 showing it as suitable for one store only; Fig.r 7 as suitable for another store only; Fig. 8 as suitable for both stores; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a token suitable for a considerable number of stores; Fig. `10 is a perspective of a portion of the token looking at the underside thereof adjacent one end.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the frame of my machine comprises a hollow casting Ill of inverted box-like formhaving substantially vertical side walls Il terminating below in lateral supporting flanges I2, front and back walls i3 and Iii, and a top plate I5 joined at the top to the Various walls. The top web forms really the bed of the machine and receives indirectly the printing blow as hereinafter explained.

Extending from the box-like portion of the frame, preferably in line with the side walls II, are vertical webs I6, which carry near their upper edgesa horizontal rod on which is mounted theplaten arm 30. This arm carries on its4 underside a rubber bed or similar platen member 3L The top of the arm is formed into a rounded smooth knob-like portion 32, adapted to befreadily engaged by the operators hand in depressing the arm. The arm is normally held elevated, in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, by .a coiled torsion spring 2I (Fig. 1) which surrounds the rod 20 and has one free end bearing against the underside of the platen arm and the other end against a pin Il carried by one of the frame extensions I6.

A slideway is formed in the top of the bed I5 directly beneath the platen and extending in the general length thereof. The slideway, as shown, ,comprises a shallow groove I8 in the bed and` a pair of strips secured to the bed and overhanging the groove.` Mounted in the slideway is a flat horizontal bar 5ll adapted to reciprocate readily. This bar has in its upper face a shallow depression 5I in which a token A may be seated. When the slide 5I] is extended, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the recess 5I is entirely beyond the frame and thus exposed to allow the token to be placed therein. When the slide is in its innermost position, as shown in Figs. ,3 and 4, the token receiving recess is directly beneath the platen.

The outer end of the slide may be formed into a flat knob-like portion 52 to enable it to bemore readily grasped by the operators lingers.

Near its inner end the slide is shown as carrying a downwardly extending pin 54, which occupies a narrow groove I9 formed in the bed deeper than the base of the Wide groove I8. This pin, by impinging the end. of the groove I9, as shown in Figs. l and 2, limits the outward movement of the slide.

To hold the slide temporarily in its innermost, or printing position, and at the same time allow it to be readily drawn out manually, I provide a spring detent bearing against it. This detent is shown as comprising a vertical pin 66, mounted in the bed and pressed upwardly by a leaf .spring 6I secured tc the underside of the bed. The upper end of the pin 60 is rounded and is adapted to coact with an indentation 5'! formed in appropriate position on the underface of the slide 50.

The latch mechanism, which normally locks the platen and is releasedby the individual indi cation on the token, is shown in locked position in Figs. 2 and 4, and in released position in Fig. 3. This mechanism includes a dog 10, pivotally attached at 'il to one of the frame webs I6. The upper end of this dog may stand directly below a shoulder 35 formed on the platen arm adjacent the pivot 2l). As shown, the dog is cut away in a curve at 'I2 adjacent its upper end to allow the end to come close to the rounded end portion of the platen arm. The dog 'I0 is connectedby a link 'I3 with a rock arm 'I4 on a rock shaft 15, journalled in the frame webs I6. Extending upwardly from this rock shaft is another rock arm 'I6 which carries a blade 'I'I occupying a short groove 'I8 in the base of the slideway I8.

The latch is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 2 by suitable springs. Thus I have shown a coil spring 88, which may be attached at one end to the pivot pin connecting the link 'I3 to the arm 'I4 and at the other end to the stud 'II carrying the dog 10. I have shown also a spring 8| mounted on the rock arm 'I6 and bearing against the end of the pivoted blade 11. The spring 89 drawing rearward on the rock arm 'I4 tends to maintain the dog 'I0 in the locking position shown in Fig. 2, and the blade 'I'I in its forward position, the front end of this blade being kept down in its groove in the bed by the spring 16.

The slide 50 is formed on its underside at the inner end with a downwardly facing groove 58 positioned in alignment with the latch blade TI. Extending crosswise of the slide at Ythe outer end of the groove 58 is a vertical opening 59 leading downwardly through the slide from the plate receiving recess 5I.

It results from the construction described that when the slide is shoved inwardly the groove 58 will pass over the latch blade 'I'I. The length of that groove plus the width of the. opening 59 is such that the slide may reach its extreme innermost position (as determined by a pin 90 in the slide engaging the face of the base) without en-` gaging the blade 'I'I. This is illustrated inFig. 4. However, if the token resting in the recess 5I has a downward projection occupying the opening 59 in a position to engage the end of the blade 'I'I, such engagement will effect the release of, the latch when the slide comes into its innermost position as shown in Fig. 3, and thereupon the platen may be manually depressed to effect the printing. Thus, the machine is normallyV control blade is placed in the slide receiving recess.

The tokens, illustrated at A in the drawings, are thin metal plates adapted to be readily embossed with upwardly facing printing characters as indicated at a. Each token is provided with at least one downward projection a1. This projection may be made on the token in any suitable manner. I nd it most satisfactory to make it by forming a short transverse cut in the token and pressing downwardly the metal just back of the cut to provide an abrupt downwardly extending edge a2, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

Fig. 6 illustrates the projection al formed in position to coact with the control blade 'I'I in the particular machine shown in the drawings. If the projection a1 were formed in the position indicated at a3 in Fig. 7, it would not engage with the particular machine shown, but might engage with a similar machine which had the control blade 'I'I in a position to occupy a groove in the slidcway I8 located as indicated by the broken lines 95 in Fig. l, the slide in that case having on its underside a registering groove 96.

The token A of Fig. 8 has two projections a1 and a3 and is adapted to ooact either with the specific machine shown in full lines in the drawings, or with a similar machine employing the grooves 95 and 96 and the correspondingly positioned control blade 'I'I.

It will be seen that my token is adapted to be formed with a number of projections adjacent its end to represent various stores, and the machines in any store are readily made special to that store by cutting the grooves 'I8 and 58 or 95 and 96 in the special location which corresponds to the location of the token projection appertaining to that store.

If there is not sufficient room across the end of the token for projections for all of the stores desired, a second parallel row of projections may be formed back of the rst row, with the projections of the second row directly behind the spaces between projections of the rst row. Such rst and second rows are indicated at a4 and a5 on the token illustrated in Fig. 9. In this case the control blade, being thinner than the spaces between the projections of the rst row, may be positioned so as not to be engaged by them, and still engage the projections of the second row. The movement contributed to the control blade by the engagement of the projections of the second row is suiiicient to free the latch dog 'IU from engagement with the platen arm and the engagement of. the rst row of projections will simply move the latch dog further idly.

Any suitable means may be employed to provide pigment matter for making the impression. It is desirable, however, that no inking surface engage the token itself so that the latter may be clean when handed back to the customer without the necessity of wiping. To that end, one may employ carbon sheets associated with the sales slips, or an inking ribbon backed by an impervious protecting strip of paper or similar material might be used. I nd it very satisfactory, however, to employ for this purpose a rolled-up strip of carbon paper, carboned on one side only, and that is the construction shown in the drawings. There a carbon paper strip, designated I D0, is employed, having the carbon coating facing upwardly where the paper crosses the slideway. In Figs. 3, 4 and 5, B indicates a sales slip or similar page adapted to overlie the inking medium IOIJ and be irnprinted by the platen.

As shown, the carbon coated s"trip' |00 extends over the Aslideway and thence downwardly through openings in theframe and is then mounted o-n a pair of spools |02@ As shown, the inner end of the paper passes in through a diametric slot ID3 of the spool to anchor the paper. These spools are journalled atone end on pins |05 carried by the base wall 'i4 Vwhile at the front end they are connected to pins IUS `which carry knurled knobs |01 at their outer ends. By rotating one knob |01 orthe other, the inking strip may be fed in either direction as desired, to present a fresh face for the imprint. The pins |06 may be pulled out of the spools by their knobs to enable the removal Aof the spool for the mounting of a fresh inking web, and thereafter theY spool with the web wound on it is placed vin alignment with the pin, and by merely shoving in of the pin, it becomes locked to the spool, the spool and pin having angular portions which engage in this position so that the knob may turn the spool. i i

It will be seen from the description given that my machine is extremely simple in construction, comprising primarily a base carrying a slide, a platen arm` and a lock controllable directly by the token on the slide. The inking mediumA may be conveniently carried in the base of the machine as shown, or might be dispensed with and vthe inking pigment supplied by carbon sheets interleaved with sales slips.

In using the machine, the operator merely places the token in the recess in the` slide, moves the slide inwardly, and then lays above the inking medium the sales slip or plurality of them with carbon between them, as indicated generally by the character B in the drawings, delivers a manual blow to the knob on the platen arm, and then draws out the slide and hands the token back to the Customer. v v

The feature of thetoken projections occupying the slide opening as shown not only provides for contro-l of the latch as desired, but is effective to prevent the proper token being improperly inserted. That is to say, if the token is placed in the recess upside down or` wrongfend to, its engagement with the ledges 4Q will prevent `the slide being moved into position, and thereupon the operator immediately places the token in the proper position in the slide recess. The entire operation of placing thetoken, moving the slide inwardly, makingthe impression, and handing the token back to the customer, requires a very short time.

I claim:

1. The combination of a base adapted to support a printing plate, a manually operable platen arm pivotally mounted on the base, a platen on the arm adapted to coact with a plate on the support when the arm is lowered, a continuously active lock for the platen arm, and means controlled by the plate to release the lock.

2. The combination of a support for an address plate and a manually operable platen to coact with a plate on the support, a lock normally preventing movement of the platen, said lock being continuously active and having releasing means adapted to be engaged by a specially positioned shoulder on the plate.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a reciprocable slide movably carried thereby and formed to receive a customers token, a platen adapted to coact with the token on the slide, and means for preventing effective printing when an improper token is' properly placed on the slide.

4.V In-adevice of the character described, the

combination of a base having a slideway on its upper lface, a manually operable slide mounted in the slideway and having a recess in its upper face, said recess being adapted to be beyond the base orover the base according to the position of thev slide, a platen arm pivotally carriedby the base, and aplanular platen on the arm adapted to coact with-a customers token on the positioned slidewhen the arm is lowered.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a manually operable movable platen, a lock for the platen, and a manually operable slide on the base adapted to carry a customers token into position for printing coaction with the platen, said token having means for releasing the lock.

6. The Vcombination of a base having a slideway, a reciprocable slide therein adapted to carry a customers token, a manually operablev platen arm hinged to the base, a normally active lock preventing movement of the platen arm, and means whereby a properly positioned shoulder on thetoken may release the lock. v

7. In a Idevice of the character described the combination of a base, a platen arm hinged thereto, a slide mounted on the base having an upwardly opening recess adapted to receive a customers token, which may be carried by movement of the slide into printing position, a lock for `the platen arm, mechanism movable in the sam'edirection as the positioning movement of the slideto release `the lock, said mechanism being positioned to be engaged by a properly positioned shoulder on the token on the slide.

8.` In a device of the character described `the combination of a base having a slideway on its upper surface, a slide mounted in the slideway and adapted to carry a customers token, said slide having an opening through it which may be occupied byV a downward projection on the token, a printing arm pivoted'to the base, a latch for the printing arm having a releasing member positioned to be engaged by an aligned projection onl the token.

` 9. 'I'he combination of a base having a slideway, 'a slide in the slideway, a recess in the upper surface of the slide adapted to receive a customerswtoken, `an opening through the slide registering with the recess, whereby the opening may receive a projection on the underside of the token, a platen arm pivoted to the base, a locking dog for the platen arm, a movable member adapted to operate the dog and positioned to be engaged by an aligned downward projection in the slide opening of a token in the recess.

10. The combination of a base, a slide mounted thereon, a recess in the upper face of the slide adapted to receive a customers token, a platen arm pivotally carried by the base, and a planular platen on the arm adapted to coact with the customers token by the lowering of the arm when the slide has positioned the token over the base, an abutment normally standing in the path of a shoulder on` the arm and preventing printing thereby, and mechanism actuated by a shoulder in a certain position on the token to move the dog to idle position.

11. The combination of a base, a platen arm pivoted thereto and carrying a platen adapted to coact with a token supported by the base, a dog normally standing in the path of a shoulder on the platen arm and preventing printing ac- Til tion of the platen arm, a blade movably carriedy by the base in position to be engaged by a projection on a customers token, and a rock shaft carried by the base having a pair of rock arms thereon, one connected with the blade and the other with the dog.

12. A printing device having a base with a slideway therein, a slide in the slideway adapted to receive a customers token and carry it into position for coaction with the platen, and a platen pivoted to the base and adapted to coact with the positioned token, and means on the printing device adapted to be controlled by a definitely positioned shoulder on a token to prevent the printing operation in the absence of a shoulder in the proper position on a token which is on the slide.

13. The combination with a normally inoperative printing machine adapted to print from a customers token having a particular index, and means under the control of said index While the token is in printing position in the machine to render the machine operative toV print. v

14. The combination of a manually operable printing device having a continuously active lock normally preventing operation and a customers token providing a printing form and an index adapted to release the lock.

l5. The combination of a manually operable printing device, having a continuously active lock normally preventing operation and a customers token having embossed printing characters adapted to coact with the device to make an imprint, said token having a fixed shoulder adapted to differ on different tokens to release the lock only on presentation of a token having the proper shoulder.

16. In a machine having a platen adapted to coact with and print from individually presented customer tokens manually placed in the machine, means to prevent such coaction, said means being rendered inoperative by proper placement in printing position of a token suitable for printing in the machine, whereby to enable coaction of the platen and token.

17. In a printing machine for individual customer tokens, the combination of printing means, and locking means normally preventing a printing operation, which locking means is continuously active and is releasedy by the arrival in printing position of a manually inserted token suitable for printing in that machine whereby to enable a printing operation thereon to be effected.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a support and platen, of a customers token comprising a planular address plate having embossed characters and a projection on one face of the plate extending out of the plane thereof, a latch and operating mechanism therefor adapted to coact with a correspondingly positioned projection on the address plate whereby said address plate may coact with the platen or not, according to the position of said projection on the plate.

19. The combination with a printing device, of a customers token adapted to provide the printing form and comprising an address plate having embossed characters and fixed projections from one face of the plate to present a plurality of abrupt shoulders in a transverse row across the end portion of the token beyond the region of the address, a normally active lock for the printing device, and release mechanism for the lock adapted to be engaged and controlled by one of said shoulders.

20. In a machine having a manually operable platen and a holder adapted to receive customer tokens in printing relation to the platen, mechanism normally active to prevent coaction of the platen and a token in the holder, means to release the preventing mechanism, said holder being formed to receive tokens of a given class irrespective of the species thereof, said releasing means cooperating with one species and not with another of the same class.

21. A machine in Which customer tokens are inserted individually by hand and printed from by relative movement of a platen and token toward each other effected manually, characterized in that the machine is normally continuously locked against operation, and releasing mechanism for the lock operable by a token suitable for printing in the machine when properly placed in printing position therein.

22. In a printing machine arranged to receive and print` from tokens which are individually and manually placed in the machine, a platen and a support for the tokens, one being movable relative to the other to print, and means to prevent said relative movement of the platen and support toward each other, said means being releasable by proper tokens, properly positioned, but not by improper tokens however positioned, or by proper tokens improperly positioned.

FRANKLIN E. CURTIS. 

